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Boston Public Library
Finances & Budget

FY15 Budget Update

by Ellen Donaghey

Mayor Walsh presented the first City of Boston budget of his administration on April 9 to Boston City Council. The submission included a $2.7 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2015 and a five-year, $1.9 billion capital plan. The BPL has a recommended operating budget of $33,416,125, in FY15, an increase over current FY14 authorized spending of $543,191.

The City’s capital plan funds a number of library projects, including the Jamaica Plain Branch remodeling, expansion and service improvement: $875,0000 in FY15, $8,916,500 in future years; and the Central Library renovation/Johnson Building Phase 2: $34,000,000 for FY15, $30,142,932 in future years. Coupled with earlier spending, the total Johnson Renovation budget allocation is $75,500,000.

The Mayor’s recommended operating budget and capital budget is now under review and discussion by the Boston City Council, with final approval anticipated prior to July 1. Visit www.cityofboston.gov/budget/ for additional details. Also in process is the state’s FY15 budget. Boston Public Library receives state funding in addition to city funding. Stay up-to-date with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts FY15 budget process via this link.

The Mayor’s budget recommendation coupled with some available FY14 funding allows the Library to offer year-round Sunday hours at the Central Library and year-round Saturday hours in the branches. The Central Library in Copley Square will offer year-round Sunday hours of 1 – 5 p.m. in addition to its year-round Saturday hours of 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. In previous years, Sunday hours in Copley Square ended in May and returned in October.

All twenty-four neighborhood branches in the Boston Public Library system will have year-round Saturday hours as well. Saturday hours at Boston Public Library branches vary per location, but are typically 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., or 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. In previous years, Saturday hours at Boston Public Library branches ended in June and returned in September.

This entry was posted
on Monday, April 14th, 2014 at 9:33 am and is filed under Finances, FY15 Budget.
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